Influence of the Socio-Cultural Environment and External Factors in Following Plant-Based Diets
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Population and Settings
2.2. Questionnaire
2.3. Data Collection
2.4. Statistical Analyses
3. Results
3.1. Socio-Demographic Characteristics
3.2. Personal Diet and Motivations
3.3. Socio-Cultural Environment
3.4. Availability of Plant-Based Foods
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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LOMA LINDA | COPENHAGEN | |
---|---|---|
Frequency (n) | 43 | 186 |
1. Gender | ||
Women | 76.7 | 87.1 |
Men | 23.3 | 11.8 |
Preferred not to disclose | 0.0 | 1.1 |
2. Age | ||
19 years or younger | 0.0 | 9.1 |
20–29 years | 53.5 | 54.8 |
30–39 years | 11.6 | 17.7 |
40–49 years | 11.6 | 13.4 |
50–59 years | 16.3 | 3.2 |
60–69 years | 2.3 | 1.1 |
70 years or older | 4.7 | 0.5 |
3. Religion | ||
Christian | 58.1 | 13.4 |
Seventh-Day Adventist | 55.8 | 0.0 |
Other protestant | 2.3 | 13.4 |
No religion | 9.3 | 70.4 |
Others | 32.6 | 16.2 |
4. Level of Education | ||
High school graduate | 0.0 | 4.8 |
College degree | 9.3 | 25.3 |
Undergraduate/Bachelor’s degree | 39.5 | 30.6 |
Graduate/Master’s degree | 34.9 | 19.9 |
Doctoral Degree | 11.6 | 2.7 |
Professional degree | 4.7 | 10.8 |
Other | 0.0 | 5.9 |
LOMA LINDA | COPENHAGEN | |
---|---|---|
Frequency (n) | 43 | 186 |
1. Which diet do you follow on a regular basis? | ||
Flexitarian (eats meat, poultry, or fish occasionally) | 39.5 | 21.0 |
Pescatarian (eats fish and dairy and/or eggs, but not meat) | 16.3 | 6.5 |
Lacto-ovo-vegetarian (eats dairy or eggs or both, but not meat nor fish) | 25.6 | 24.7 |
Vegan (eats only plant foods) | 18.6 | 47.8 |
2. How long have you followed this diet? | ||
Less than 1 year | 7.0 | 21.0 |
1–5 years | 23.3 | 51.1 |
5–10 years | 9.3 | 15.6 |
10–15 years | 16.3 | 4.8 |
15–20 years | 9.3 | 1.1 |
20 years or more | 34.9 | 6.5 |
3. Which of the following areas motivated you to start your diet? | ||
Health | 53.5 | 22.6 |
Weight loss | 0.0 | 2.2 |
Environment/Climate change | 0.0 | 22.0 |
Animal welfare | 7.0 | 39.8 |
Social norm (if friends and family eat this way) | 16.3 | 1.1 |
Religious/Spiritual belief | 11.6 | 0.5 |
Taste | 0.0 | 3.8 |
Saving money | 0.0 | 0.5 |
Political reasons | 0.0 | 1.6 |
Convenience | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Diet trend | 0.0 | 0.5 |
Other | 11.6 | 5.4 |
4. Which of the following areas motivates you to continue this diet? | ||
Health | 69.8 | 22.0 |
Weight loss | 0.0 | 1.1 |
Environment/Climate change | 2.3 | 28.5 |
Animal welfare | 4.7 | 40.9 |
Social norm (if friends and family eat this way) | 2.3 | 0.5 |
Religious/Spiritual belief | 7.0 | 0.0 |
Taste | 0.0 | 3.2 |
Saving money | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Political reasons | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Habit | 7.0 | 1.6 |
Convenience | 4.7 | 0.0 |
Diet trend | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Other | 2.2 | 2.2 |
5. Would you eat more plant-based than you do now 1, if | ||
It was cheaper. | 11.4 | 13.4 |
It tasted better. | 5.7 | 5.2 |
You could get the plant-based alternative for those food items/dishes you love (e.g., burger, meatballs, chicken tikka masala, cheese, yogurt, butter, etc.). | 8.6 | 1.0 |
It was more convenient/easier to get plant-based food. | 11.4 | 10.3 |
It was less time consuming. | 8.6 | 9.3 |
There would be a greater selection of plant-based items in your supermarkets. | 2.9 | 7.2 |
More restaurants and cafes offered plant-based meals. | 17.1 | 7.2 |
More of my friends and family followed the same diet. | 8.6 | 15.5 |
The person cooking in my home, would cook plant-based meals. | 2.9 | 5.2 |
None, I am already eating a satisfactory diet. | 11.4 | 23.7 |
Other | 11.4 | 2.0 |
LOMA LINDA | COPENHAGEN | |
---|---|---|
Frequency (n) | 43 | 186 |
1. Do you follow the same diet as the majority of your family (parents, partner, children)? | ||
Yes | 48.8 | 21.0 |
No | 51.2 | 79.0 |
2. If no, which diet do the majority of your family follow? | ||
Omnivore (eats meat and plant food) | 59.1 | 76.2 |
Flexitarian (eats meat, poultry, or fish occasionally) | 4.5 | 21.1 |
Pescatarian (eats fish and dairy and/or eggs, but not meat) | 9.1 | 0.0 |
Lacto-ovo-vegetarian (eats dairy or eggs or both, but not meat nor fish) | 18.2 | 1.4 |
Vegan (eats only plant foods) | 4.5 | 0.0 |
Other | 4.6 | 1.3 |
3. Do you follow the same diet as the majority of your friends? | ||
Yes | 27.9 | 14.5 |
No | 72.1 | 85.5 |
4. If no, which diet do the majority of your friends follow? | ||
Omnivore (eats meat and plant food) | 71.0 | 79.2 |
Flexitarian (eats meat, poultry, or fish occasionally) | 12.9 | 17.6 |
Pescatarian (eats fish and dairy and/or eggs, but not meat) | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lacto-ovo-vegetarian (eats dairy or eggs or both, but not meat nor fish) | 9.7 | 1.3 |
Vegan (eats only plant foods) | 3.2 | 0.0 |
Other | 3.2 | 1.9 |
5. Do you ever compromise your diet because of social pressure? | ||
Yes, very often. | 2.3 | 13.4 |
Sometimes. | 41.9 | 27.4 |
No, rarely. | 55.8 | 59.1 |
6. Is eating a more plant-based diet associated with the religion/spiritual beliefs in your city? | ||
Yes. | 65.1 | 0.0 |
No. | 27.9 | 86.6 |
I do not know. | 7.0 | 13.4 |
7. According to you, which of the following statements do you think suits best with how lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet is perceived in your city? | ||
A lifestyle which promotes health. | 67.4 | 8.1 |
A lifestyle for women. | 0.0 | 3.8 |
A lifestyle for weight loss. | 2.3 | 0.5 |
A lifestyle for very health conscious individuals. | 2.3 | 11.3 |
A lifestyle for lower income families. | 0.0 | 0.0 |
A lifestyle for higher income families. | 0.0 | 0.5 |
A lifestyle for certain religious/spiritual beliefs. | 23.3 | 0.5 |
A lifestyle for individuals who have strong beliefs in animal rights. | 2.3 | 27.4 |
A lifestyle for addressing and reducing climate change. | 0.0 | 31.2 |
I do not know. | 2.4 | 16.7 |
8. According to you, which of the following statements do you think suits best with how vegan diet is perceived in your city? | ||
A lifestyle which promotes health. | 25.6 | 2.2 |
A lifestyle for women. | 2.3 | 2.2 |
A lifestyle for weight loss. | 0.0 | 0.0 |
A lifestyle for very health conscious individuals. | 30.2 | 8.1 |
A lifestyle for lower income families. | 0.0 | 0.0 |
A lifestyle for higher income families. | 0.0 | 1.1 |
A lifestyle for certain religious/spiritual beliefs. | 16.3 | 1.6 |
A lifestyle for individuals who have strong beliefs in animal rights. | 18.6 | 53.2 |
A lifestyle for addressing and reducing climate change. | 0.0 | 15.6 |
I do not know. | 7.0 | 16.0 |
LOMA LINDA | COPENHAGEN | |
---|---|---|
Frequency (n) | 43 | 186 |
1. Do you find it easy to shop basic food alternatives suitable for lacto-ovo-vegetarians and/or vegans in your area (such as legumes, tofu, tempeh, vegetable milk, etc.)? | ||
Yes, it is no problem to find basic plant-based items in the supermarkets here. | 76.7 | 46.8 |
Most of the time, yes, although I can’t always get what I need from one store. | 23.3 | 48.9 |
No, I find it difficult to find basic plant-based items in supermarkets here. | 0.0 | 4.3 |
2. Do you find it easy to shop ready-to-eat items suitable for lacto-ovo-vegetarians and/or vegans in your area? | ||
Yes, it is no problem to find lacto-ovo-vegetarian meals in the supermarkets here. | 41.9 | 12.4 |
Yes, it is no problem to find both lacto-ovo-vegetarian and vegan meals in the supermarkets here. | 18.6 | 27.4 |
Sometimes. | 25.6 | 39.2 |
No, I find it difficult to find either. | 7.0 | 12.4 |
I haven’t looked for it. | 6.9 | 8.6 |
3. Do you think that foods suitable for lacto-ovo-vegetarians or vegans are too expensive compared to animal-based foods? | ||
Yes, lacto-ovo-vegetarian and/or vegan options are more expensive than animal-based ones. | 58.1 | 81.2 |
I think they are about the same. | 20.9 | 11.8 |
No, lacto-ovo-vegetarian and/or vegan options are cheaper than animal-based ones. | 16.3 | 2.2 |
I do not know | 4.7 | 4.8 |
4. Is there a lack of lacto-ovo-vegetarian or vegan meal options at your work, school or the place you spend the most of your day? | ||
Yes, both meal options are missing. | 2.3 | 22.0 |
They have lacto-ovo-vegetarian meals, but not vegan meal options. | 20.9 | 26.3 |
Sometimes the options are available. | 9.3 | 12.9 |
No, the options are available, but the dishes are not very good. | 7.0 | 6.5 |
No, both meal options are available. | 55.8 | 14.5 |
Not applicable | 4.7 | 17.8 |
5. Is there a lack of lacto-ovo-vegetarian or vegan meals when you eat out? | ||
Yes, both meal options are missing. | 4.7 | 10.8 |
Most places have lacto-ovo-vegetarian meals, but not vegan meal options. | 58.1 | 60.2 |
Sometimes the options are available. | 9.3 | 14.5 |
No, the options are available, but the dishes are not very good. | 9.3 | 4.8 |
No, both meal options are available. | 16.3 | 7.0 |
Other | 2.3 | 2.7 |
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Fresán, U.; Errendal, S.; Craig, W.J. Influence of the Socio-Cultural Environment and External Factors in Following Plant-Based Diets. Sustainability 2020, 12, 9093. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219093
Fresán U, Errendal S, Craig WJ. Influence of the Socio-Cultural Environment and External Factors in Following Plant-Based Diets. Sustainability. 2020; 12(21):9093. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219093
Chicago/Turabian StyleFresán, Ujué, Sofie Errendal, and Winston J. Craig. 2020. "Influence of the Socio-Cultural Environment and External Factors in Following Plant-Based Diets" Sustainability 12, no. 21: 9093. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219093